CD83+Dendritic Cells in the Decidua of Women with Recurrent Miscarriage and Normal Pregnancy

Immunological factors have been postulated to play a role in the aetiology of recurrent miscarriage as the fetus and placenta are semi-allogenic to the mother. Potent immunostimulatory (CD83+) dendritic cells have recently been identified in the uterine decidua. This study was conducted to examine whether decidual dendritic cells could play a role in the aetiology of recurrent miscarriage. First trimester placental and decidual biopsies were obtained from 40 women with recurrent miscarriage and 15 gestation-matched normal controls. These biopsies were screened by immunohistochemistry for CD83+cells. Staining was analysed by light microscopy and digital image analysis. In both recurrent miscarriage and normal pregnancy, CD83+dendritic cells were localized to the decidua. Individual dendritic cells were present in the decidual stroma or in clusters of 3–4 dendritic cells, in lymphoid aggregates. There were no significant differences in decidual CD83+dendritic cell density between women with recurrent miscarriage and normal pregnancy when the groups were compared as a whole. However, when segregated by gestational age, decidua from women with recurrent miscarriage at 8 weeks' gestation contained significantly more dendritic cells than gestational age-matched normal controls. This suggests dendritic cells may play a role in the aetiology of some cases of recurrent miscarriage.